A High Price for High Heels

What is a common source of foot pain for women, no matter what the age? High-heels! From the teens through the golden years, women want to look their best from head to toe.

A recent survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association found that 2 out of 10 teen girls experience foot pain related to wearing heels. At the opposite end of the spectrum, a study of foot problems in older adults published in the October 2009 issue of Arthritis Care & Research, found a correlation between wearing high- heels and ankle and heel pain. In that study, 64% of women who reported this type of foot pain had consistently worn high-heeled shoes at some stage of life. The connection between the type of shoes that a woman wears and her foot health cannot be underestimated.

High-heels offer high style at a high price. The heel of the foot absorbs a great amount of force with each step. Shoes such as athletic sneakers offer additional shock absorption that softens each step. Heels, on the other hand, do not, and the ankles and heels are greatly affected along with the ball of the foot. Issues such as neuromas and metatarsalgia can arise.

Many women joke with their friends about falling over when they wear high-heels. The reality is that heels are less stable causing additional strain on a woman’s feet that can lead to stress fractures. Not to mention that feet are often squeezed into pointy-toed heels, or other styles with narrow toe boxes resulting in an increased risk of ingrown toenails, corns, bunions, and other foot conditions.

Save your heels for special occasions, and when trying on look for styles with a wider toe box. Remember, if you have to force your foot into a shoe then it isn’t the shoe for you!

Taking care of your feet now will mean better foot health in the future. Dr. Sanjay Patel and his staff can help. Call our Milford, CT office at (203)876-7736, or the Hamden, CT office at (203)288-4055 today. Or, visit our website to schedule an appointment.